We just finished an amazing visit with family and friends in
Colorado, Arizona and Massachusetts. After our exceptionally long travelling
over the United States, the Atlantic Ocean and much of the African continent in
enclosed metal tubes with wings that flapped violently in the consistent
turbulence, we have made it back to our South African home! We felt a
comforting sense of rest while we unpacked our suitcases in our little flat
behind BEAM house. It felt normal to be here. It felt like home.
During the evening of our return, Courage the dog made her
way over before long and assumed her important role of holding down the carpet
after nearly licking our faces raw. All four of the other dogs stopped by for a
visit as well. Cerdito our guinea pig has added a little weight, but is still
energetic as ever. He still is sure to remind us that he wants a lettuce snack
whenever we open the fridge.
The landscape has endured many changes in our absence. The
plants are all in full bloom covering the green terrain with brilliant colors
of purple, pink, yellow and orange flowers. The view is magnificent.
We quickly discovered the spiders were very busy in our
absence. After multiple victorious battles over them and significantly reducing
their population, they have been determined to replenish their ranks. Beyond
vigorous egg laying and hatching of their own kind, they have also been
recruiting. It seems these sneaky arachnids have enlisted the aid of thousands
of sinister ants. These menacing insects created a super-city under our front
porch, waiting for the perfect time to strike. Just after dusk when they knew
our sight would be limited, they began their invasion. We heard their bugle
sound the charge and thousands came crawling across the porch with intentions
to enter our home. Many carried eggs in attempt to hatch within our home giving
them a more tactical advantage. Others bore their teeth anxious to tear at our
flesh. After depleting our single can of bug spray, they kept coming. They
crawled over the carcasses of their fallen comrades, determined to be the
victors. Jeanine took the front lines with her mighty broom, sweeping
vigorously at the insistent ants. Mike scrambled back and forth from the
kitchen sink and the porch carrying a bucket of water, confident the insects
could not swim. Courage paced anxiously at the door afraid for her life while
Cerdito cheered us on from his caged fortress. The battled raged deep into the
night, neither side willing to forfeit. Then, as the sweat slid down our
foreheads past our cheeks, exhausted from the steady sweeping and heated by the
steam from the rivers of water dumped onto the battlefield, the insects began
their retreat. Although enervated by the battle, we cheered and screamed our
shout of victory, warning the ants to never again return. The morning daylight
revealed the devastating casualty count. War is not pretty, except for hungry
birds willing to feed on ant cadavers.
Anyway….
We were received well at the BEAM Africa center. The staff
was excited to see us and many of the kids gave us hugs tight enough to get the
last little bit of toothpaste out of its tube. The Siyathemba kids were out of
control with excitement. They were in the middle of eating their breakfast when
we arrived, so they all dropped their spoons and came running to give us hugs.
Our clothes were covered with oatmeal from their hands and faces pressed into
us.
There are so many activities scheduled for this month. With
the holidays coming, we have little time to prepare for all the upcoming
events, and eventual holiday closure of the centers in mid-December.
We have come to learn that after the centers close for the
season our ministry will be significantly changing. Matthew 25 and Isaiah 58
have inspired our work and it continues to be our motivation. We have been
called to continue serving, but instead return home to care for our own. God is
now taking us from South Africa to New England to care for Jeanine’s parents.
Mom is in a nursing home with much need of spiritual uplifting and aid. She is
both physically and spiritually suffering. Dad just underwent surgery in
attempt heal his infected leg avoiding amputation. If unsuccessful, he may very
soon be bound to a wheelchair, unable to care for himself any longer. Plagued
by multiple illnesses, including the possibility of cancer (to be determined in
a few days), his body is shutting down.
We are truly saddened that we will be leaving this beautiful
country and our family here, however we are determined to follow God’s plan for
us (no matter how crazy it sounds at times). We will maintain communication via
this blog and sincerely hope you continue to follow our adventures. We also
still have plenty of work to finish in Africa and plan to share these events
very soon.
Until then, we thank you for all your prayers and support.
We pray the Lord will bless you for all of your selfless blessing to us.
With love,
Mike and Jeanine
Little Courage being brave
The view from our window
Mama duck had three baby chicks - she is protecting them here
